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Ward shoring up juvenile turf contingent for next weekend’s stakes

by NYRA Press Office

• McGaughey likely to saddle talented trio during October Festival of Racing
• Trainer Handal to make Grade 1 debut with Still Krz in Vosburgh
• Loooch Racing's Paolucci brings pair to test Grade 1 competition
• Hat giveaway, Breakfast at Belmont top September Super Saturday events
• Fields taking shape for next week’s October Festival of Racing

Well known for his precocious 2-year-olds on the turf, trainer Wesley Ward said Friday that he could have as many as five runners between the $150,000 Futurity and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron, both for juvenile grass sprinters next weekend at Belmont.

Ward said Calumet Farm’s Fayette Warrior is likely to target the Futurity on Sunday, October 6, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the inaugural Juvenile Turf Sprint on Future Stars Friday, November 2 at Churchill Downs, while Egoli is on course for the Matron for fillies on Columbus Day Monday, October 8.

Ward added that Shang Shang Shang, winner of the Group 2 Norfolk at Royal Ascot this summer, may make her stateside return in the Matron. Dragic, a 2-year-old filly by Broken Vow, is currently being considered for both divisions, and Ward said he will decide whether he wants to add another runner to the mix in the coming days.

Fayette Warrior, by Exchange Rate, wore blinkers in his debut August 13 at Saratoga Race Course, racing just off the pace over good turf before fading late to finish seventh. He came back with blinkers off in September and pressed a mild early pace before kicking clear to an impressive 4 ¼-length maiden victory at Kentucky Downs.

“He’s had a decent enough race first time out. He’s a nice colt, but he was a little green at Saratoga. And firing back, he just blitzed them at Kentucky Downs,” said Ward. “He’s had some very nice breezes on the dirt at Keeneland since, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s a stern test and we’ll see what he’s made of, but he’s certainly a talented little horse, that’s for sure.”

Ward said it took a while to find a race for Egoli, owned by Clearview Stable and China Horse Club International, but the Quality Road filly was worth the wait, proving much the best winning a five-furlong maiden special weight at Belterra Park by 1 ¼ lengths on September 16.

“She’s an extremely talented filly. We had her in Saratoga and she was rained out of the races a few times there and we just couldn’t get in, unfortunately,” he said. “We got her back to Kentucky and pointed for one of those races at Kentucky Downs, but we couldn’t get her in. So, we took her to Belterra and she ran just a phenomenal race. Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] was breezing her at Saratoga and he just loved her. He was even going to fly out to ride her, but we got rained out the first time [she entered at Belterra]. The fact that a tiger like that wanted to come all the way out there just to ride her says a lot about her talent I think.”

Breeze Easy’s Shang Shang Shang hasn’t raced since recording a nose victory in the Norfolk on June 21, which nabbed her the first all-fees-paid berth into the new Breeders’ Cup contest. She was entered in the Skidmore on August 17 at Saratoga, but was scratched before the race due to a foot bruise.

“She had a few fantastic breezes at Saratoga and then she kind of bruised a heel,” said Ward. “She’s such a nice filly, so just as a precaution, I called the owners and ultimately, we decided to scratch. When in doubt, I’m usually out. I just had a little bit of a feeling that things might not be right and I didn’t want to take any chances. We gave her some time to get over that foot and she’s had some wonderful breezes at Keeneland, so she’s definitely nearing her return.”

Steven Bell’s Dragic made a switch to the grass last time out, finishing third against males in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile at a mile on September 1. Beginning her career on the main track, the Broken Vow filly easily broke her maiden in April and came back nearly four months later to finish fourth in the Grade 2 Sorrento on the dirt at Del Mar.

“Prior to going out to California, I breezed her on the grass at Keeneland and it was an eye-opening breeze,” said Ward. “Her pedigree suggests no turf at all, but if you watch her moving over the grass, she’s certainly taken to it. She had a very valid race in California, it turned out to be a really quality field. She was a little comprised at the break, she got away a step slow, and was down there on the inside, which is something that mine aren’t used to, and she still only got beat a length for second.

“She’s pretty quick, pretty handy, she’s got some nice racing experience and I think with the cut back in distance, she’s going to be tough anywhere she goes.”

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McGaughey likely to saddle talented trio during October Festival of Racing

Code of Honor could make his stakes debut in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne on October 7 as he looks to start his career 2-for-2, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said from his barn Friday morning.

The Noble Mission colt commenced his career in impressive fashion with a front-running 1 ½-length score in a six-furlong maiden sprint on August 18 at Saratoga Race Course. After training at Belmont since the start of the month, the W.S. Farish homebred could be taking aim at the Champagne, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 2 at Churchill Downs.

Contested at one mile, the 147th edition of the Champagne will also earn the winner 10 points as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby system implemented by Churchill Downs.

“We’re thinking about it,” McGaughey said. “He’s came out of his last race great and has been training really well since then. I think getting him stretched out will help him even more.”

Despite the increase in distance, McGaughey said Code of Honor can continue to be successful as a speed horse.

“He raced good and I think he’ll lay up close,” he said.

McGaughey said Code of Honor could put in a final breeze over the weekend, depending on the weather. That would mark his fourth work on Belmont’s Big Sandy since September 8.

“I think he does like the track here,” McGaughey said. “If it’s between here or going to Keeneland, he’s trained so well here I figured [I’d] just leave him here.”

Danceland could also be looking to earn a trip to the Breeders’ Cup as she remains a possibility for the Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl on October 7. As part of the October Festival of Racing, the Flower Bowl, at 1 ¼ miles on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup in the Filly and Mare Turf on November 3.

After posting four wins in 11 career starts, Danceland stepped up to graded stakes company, finishing third in the Grade 2 Glens Falls on September 1 at Saratoga. In the 1 3/8-mile route on the Spa inner turf course labeled good, the 4-year-old Tapit filly stayed just off pacesetter and eventual winner Lady Montdore with the opening quarter-mile going in 27.79 seconds and the half in 54.56.

“It’s another step up, but she’s capable,” McGaughey said. “She ran well last time in a race that was kind of a crazy race with the fractions. If she gets a pace where I can get her covered up more, I think it’ll help her.”

McGaughey said he’s hoping to breeze Danceland on the Belmont turf on Sunday.

Inspector Lynley will run in the Grade 2, $200,000 Knickerbocker on Monday, October 8, McGaughey said. A fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch at 1 1/16 miles on the turf during Saratoga’s Closing Day September 3 marked Inspector Lynley’s first graded stakes appearance since the 2017 Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland.

After winning the Fasig-Tipton Lure on August 11, his conditioner said stretching out to the Knickerbocker distance of 1 1/8 miles could be more beneficial to the 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid.

“Everything’s been good. I was a little disappointed with his Bernard Baruch but I think the mile and an eighth will probably suit him a little bit better,” he said. “He’ll run anywhere, it doesn’t matter.”

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Trainer Handal to make Grade 1 debut with Still Krz in Vosburgh

Trainer Ray Handal will saddle his first Grade 1 starter as Still Krz competes in the $350,000 Vosburgh 3-years-old and up at six furlongs on September Super Saturday. part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” for the Sprint.

The 6-year-old gelding by Old Forrester will look to parlay success in the Vosburgh, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Sprint on November 3 at Churchill. He will be making his first start off a claim for $32,000 after the Ontario-bred wired a field of eight others by 4 3/4 lengths on August 15 at Saratoga Race Course.

A Vosburgh victory would make Still Krz as the first winner in 79 editions of the race to post a win off a claim while also joining Langfuhr, Victor Cooley, and Private Zone, a back-to-back winner from 2013-14, as only the fourth Canadian-born winner.

“He's doing really good,” Handal said. “We initially targeted this race. I thought about this from the day I claimed him. I knew the Sprint division was weak. I saw his numbers and saw how big of a race he ran. [He] naturally [has] a lot of speed. He's already run these massive races, he’s not far off stakes numbers.

“Physically, when I got him, I thought there were a few errors we could help him with. He's really flourished in the program. He's already run these massive numbers why not take a shot at a high level? The timing worked out really well for this race. I thought this horse is going to improve when I run next time, and I like to step them up when I see that. If he could catch a piece of it, it would be a home run. He just has a lot of raw, natural speed. He's a big, athletic, good looking horse. He's put on probably close to 100 pounds of muscle mass alone.”

Six of the seven trainers in the race are hoping Imperial Hint will have an off day Saturday, allowing them to take advantage of what would be a wide-open race. Pace scenario will prove key among the field, as Imperial Hint has the ability to stalk or set the pace. Handal knows exactly where he wants jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and his horse once they break from the gate.

“He's going to run. He'll be rolling on the front end,” he said. “I've probably watched every replay of his races for the last two years. He's one of those horses. I'm really glad we got Irad. He's won twice on this horse, and he's tricky to ride. Even if you go fast on him, you got to just drop your head on him and let him rip. Get him there to the front and kind of just let him drop his head and rip. Irad does a good job of staying low and keeping him going.

“He's almost 17 hands. He's massive. I wish we had a better post. I'd even take the rail. You don't have to waste time breaking out of the gate and getting over. He's going to the front no matter what. My rule of thumb is that horses usually get into trouble out of the gate when they run slowly. This horse is fast out of the gate. The faster you go from the gate, you usually avoid problems because they're out of there before the pinch comes.”

For Handal, who has been training since 2014, and has 26 horses on the Belmont backstretch, the young trainer would love to add his first Grade 1 victory to his career this Saturday just a little over a month after he notched his first stakes win with English Soul in the Fleet Indian Stakes on August 24 at Saratoga.

“That would be awesome. Going off a claim, even if he hits the board, it's a big thing. We might go to the Breeders' Cup if he runs second too. I want the excuse to buy a new suit,” Handal joked. “I won my first stakes this year, and we've been rolling for the last two years now. I've been a lot more selective and I've been a lot more patient. You just get frustrated when horses get beat. You want to get them right back into it, but you just have to take a step back. That's why I have less starters but I've been winning more, and just having a lot of general success.

“We have better stock, and people have been giving me better horses, but I think it’s a combination of everything,” he added. “Being patient, getting better horses, and having more experience. We're taking a shot here, but he's not going to make us look bad, I can tell you that. This horse is going to run.”

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Loooch Racing's Paolucci brings pair to test Grade 1 competition

Trainer Anthony Quartarolo will saddle Uno Mas Modelo in Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 ¼ miles at Belmont Park.

The 5-year-old Macho Uno gelding will stretch out from his regular role as a closer in sprint company. Uno Mas Modelo is coming off three straight wins, including two strong finishes to remain perfect through two starts this summer at Saratoga.

The Kentucky-bred has won 6-of-27 career starts and has been a different horse since debuting with blinkers four starts back at Thistledown, displaying a quick turn-of-foot to finish second on May 12 before registering three straight victories.

The gelding will represent last year's second leading owner in victories Ron Paolucci's Loooch Racing Stables, who finished 2017 with 159 wins. The Akron, Ohio native owns roughly 120 horses in training, and hopes to add a victory in this year's Gold Cup which is part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” challenge.

"This horse, since we put blinkers on him, has been an absolute freak,” Paolucci said. "If you watch his last eighth of a mile, even in his race at Thistledown, I've never had a horse come that fast that quick with that kind of turn of foot. He's bred to go longer. He's not a big horse, but he's kind of athletic and just the way he finishes up. I'm a big believer that if you can go seven-eighths, you can run any distance. It's the toughest distance in racing to run in my opinion. He breaks like a rocket. The last two races the rider chose to take him back. Javier [Castellano] said that he could have pressed the pace in his last race if he wanted to. He's just that kind of horse.”

Although stepping up against Grade 1 competition, Paolucci said the race is wide open, with the exception of multiple Grade 1 winner Diversify, who looks to repeat his front-running victory in the Grade 1 Whitney on August 4 at Saratoga.

“I was looking at who is in the race, and obviously Diversify is going to be very tough to beat,” he said. “The rest of the field to me is very suspect, so I figured now's the time to take a shot.”

Loooch and Quartarolo will test Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt winner Imperial Hint with 5-year-old gelding Sightforsoreeyes in Saturday's Grade 1 Vosburgh. The son of Sightseeing is one of three debuting off a claim and stepping up to their first Grade 1 in the Vosburgh. The Kentucky-bred trained by Anthony Quartarolo is the lone entrant amid the field of seven that will make his first start at Belmont Park, and will do so wearing blinkers for the first time.

“I wanted to cut him back and put blinkers on when I first got him,” Paolucci said. "He's kept some good company: Leofric, Petrov, and some good horses. He's right there with them. I wanted to cut him back, and I didn't have this spot in mind when I claimed him. I was thinking a one-turn mile.”

Previously trained by Doug Anderson, Sightforsoreeyes makes his seventh start this year and 25th of his career and brings four victories to his credit, including a 1 1/4 length win against allowance foes at Prairie Meadows on July 13. The gelding failed to hit the board in his three starts at Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park respectively.

After a few fourth- and third-place finishes against open claiming competition, Sightforsoreeyes tried the turf at Canterbury, where he was outkicked for fourth then returned and folded to ninth in his second grass start at Kentucky Downs before being claimed.

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Hat giveaway, Breakfast at Belmont top September Super Saturday events

September Super Saturday at Belmont Park will offer the first giveaway of the Belmont Park fall meet – a Belmont Park baseball cap, free with paid admission while supplies last. The hat features the iconic Belmont park logo in white emblazoned on a green cap. The giveaway will take place at the West End of the Grandstand.

Saturday will also see the return of the popular “Breakfast at Belmont” program. Hosted by NYRA TV analyst and handicapper Anthony Stabile and Michele Velasquez, daughter of Hall of Fame jockey Jorge Velasquez, the Breakfast at Belmont program gives attendees the opportunity to enjoy a great breakfast buffet selection in the Belmont Café located trackside on the first floor of the Belmont Clubhouse, while watching thoroughbreds train on Belmont Park’s iconic 1 ½-mile main track.

There will also be a starting gate and paddock show demonstration. After breakfast, guests are invited to take a free tram tour through Belmont Park’s backstretch area weather permitting.

Free to attend with no charge for parking, the Breakfast at Belmont program begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 9:30. The optional quick-service breakfast buffet includes coffee, tea, pastries and juices. Following the conclusion of the program the facility will be cleared. Patrons who wish to attend the afternoon’s races will be charged admission after re-entering when gates open at 11:00 a.m. The Breakfast at Belmont program will also be offered on Sunday, September 29, and the weekends of October 6-7 and October 20-21.

Family Fun Day will also take place on Saturday from 12-4 p.m. in the backyard with activities for children and families including a rock wall, inflatable games, a reptile show, face painting and more.

Saturday will also feature a special NTRA Belmont Park NHC Super Qualifier. With a $1500 buy in with $1,000 live bankroll and $500 to the prize pool, contestants will compete for cash prizes in addition to one seat to the 2019 Belmont Stakes Challenge and four seats to the 2019 National Horseplayers Championship. Contestants are limited to placing 10 individual $50 win/place wagers on Saturday on races at Belmont, Laurel Park, and Gulfstream Park.

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Fields taking shape for next week’s October Festival of Racing

Fields are beginning to take shape for Belmont’s October Festival of Racing on Columbus Day Weekend, October 6-8.

The Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne for 2-year-olds will anchor four stakes on Saturday. The one-mile Champagne, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, will be joined by the Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame, the Grade 2, $500,000 Hill Prince, and the $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational.

Sunday’s live racing program will be highlighted by three Breeders’ Cup qualifiers: the Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl for the Filly & Mare Turf; the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette for the Juvenile Fillies, and the $150,000 Futurity offering an all-fees-paid spot in the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Columbus Day Monday will feature the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron, the filly counterpart of the Futurity, as well as the Grade 2, $200,000 Knickerbocker.

Saturday, October 6:
The Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne
“Win and You're In” Breeders' Cup Juvenile Division
Probable: Achilles Warrior (Mark Hennig); Aurelius Maximus (Chad Brown); Call Paul (Jason Servis); Casa Creed (Bill Mott); Classy John (Dallas Stewart); Code of Honor (Shug McGaughey); Complexity (Brown); Endorsed (Kiaran McLaughlin); Sir Truebadour (Steve Asmussen); Trophy Chaser (Juan Carlos Avila)

The Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame
Probable: Come Dancing (Carlos Martin); Divine Miss Grey (Danny Gargan); Farrell (Wayne Catalano); Teresa Z (Anthony Margotta, Jr.); Verve’s Tale (Barclay Tagg); Wow Cat (Brown)
Possible: Dreamcall (Asmussen)

The Grade 2, $500,000 Hill Prince
Probable: Analyze It (Brown); March to the Arch (Mark Casse); Prioritize (H. James Bond); Raging Bull (Brown); Ride a Comet (Casse); Sand Dancer (Timothy Hills)
Possible: Golden Brown (Patrick McBurney); Up the Ante (Christophe Clement)

The $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational
Probable: Blind Ambition (Todd Pletcher); Disco Partner (Clement); Hembree (Mike Maker); Pocket Change (Js. Servis); Proforma (Michael Stidham); Pure Sensation (Clement); Simon Bar Sinister (John Mazza)
Possible: Gidu (Pletcher)

Sunday, October 7:
The Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette
“Win and You're In” Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Division
Probable: Brucia La Terra (Tagg); Cassies Dreamer (Tagg); Covfefe (Brad Cox); Graceful Princess (Ralp h Nicks); Jaywalk (John Servis); Nonna Madeline (Pletcher); Sue’s Fortune (Jeremiah Englehart)

The Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl
“Win and You're In” Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Division
Probable: Danceland (McGaughey); Fourstar Crook (Brown); Lady Montdore (Tom Albertrani); Onthemoonagain (Brown); Savannah Belle (Brian Lynch)
Possible: Holy Helena (Jimmy Jerkens); Tricky Escape (Lynn Ashby)

The $150,000 Futurity
“Win and You're In” Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Division
Probable: Backtohisroots (John Terranova); Bizzee Channel (Larry Rivelli); Credit Swap (Mike Stidham); Dull Knife (Pletcher); Invigorous (Miguel Vera); Joyful Heart (Lynch); Malibu Mischief (Gary Contessa); Neverland Rock (Asmussen); Real Money (Casse); Swamp Rat (Phil Gleaves); Veterans Beach (David Donk)

Monday, October 8:
The Grade 3, $150,000 Matron
Probable: Devious Charm (Casse); Entirely (Jonathan Thomas); Guacamole (Pletcher); Into the South (Ignacio Correas, IV); Malibu Mischief (Contessa); Monette (Graham Motion);

The Grade 2, $200,000 Knickerbocker
Probable: Inspector Lynley (McGaughey); Revved Up (Jorge Abreu)
Possible: Aquaphobia (Robert Falcone, Jr.); Blacktype (Clement)